one year

Today marks a year ago that Clay was diagnosed with Stage 4 Large Cell B Lymphoma. At this time last year, they were not able to diagnose it, so we were just left with heavy hearts knowing that he had some rare form of cancer.

He is coming up on 8 months of remission. This too is a little celebration every month! There is much much to be grateful for and I truly can't believe how far we have come. Nonetheless, I feel a bit like Eeyore today with this tiny black cloud over me not really being able to think about those things.

I think it is just a fearful day. One that I have decided to allow myself to sit in because when it was all happening there was no time and a 5 week old who needed me. Clay and I were talking, while we are both beyond thankful for everything we are realizing there is much still going on in our hearts. Clay describes it as we were in the eye of the storm. Just trying to get through chemo treatments and reactions to it, living back and forth in Houston, dragging Hazel everywhere (not getting the most supportive looks from people in the hospital), adjusting to "normalcy" then. Now, by God's grace, we are in remission, we are in a much slower life, we can assess our thoughts, our feelings and our fears. So while there is no intention to dwell, or to forget the good, there is a need to mourn. Not to mourn because things are bad but mourn that world shaking event that we will both be forever changed by. And to be still in that.

Hazel's first birthday

I could not believe it was already here when the 14th came.  The day before I kept saying things like "this time last year I was at work trying to breathe through contractions...."

Our baby is 1!  I am so thankful for my creative sister's awesome idea :)  Hazel loves little lambs and my sister Camille came up with the "theme."  She even painted an adorable little lamb that will go in her room! (need to find a picture of it) My friend Lizzie was able to be in town and helped me put things together.  Which all was perfect because Clay came down with shingles a couple of days before and was out for the count. (Please pray for him, it has been quite a few painful days)  It was so fun to have our family and friends there, we all had a blast!  

She loved getting hearing the "happy birthday," we sang it several times that day. 

Still do here and there. ;)

Happy birthday to our dear little girl! Who as I write this is desperate to go outside, her absolute fav right now....So I must run :)

11 months

I can not believe how fast these last 11 months have flown by.  Our little girl is desperate to walk, a speedy crawler {especially when she hears the word "bath," she drops whatever she is doing and moves as quickly as possible to her bathroom} she doesn't really cry much besides those fussy moments right before bedtime.  Talking to herself in her crib, her "alone time," is one of her favorite past times.

Some of her other favorites are, but not limited to:

-cheerios/ yogurt for snack time

-she understands she is not supposed to touch the Christmas tree so she just waves in that direction.  She will also come to me and wave to the tree when she wants me to pick her up and show her all the ornaments.  {we do this about 45x a day}

-when she finds leaves {dragged in by her furry, puppy sister} she is proud of her findings and lifts it up for us to see.  Of course, mischievously, if we don't notice she quickly puts it her mouth.

-high fives

-clapping for herself after she has done anything

-still adores elmo

-turning off light switches

-going with us to get the mail

-singing

-dancing

What an absolute joy she has been in our lives.  We both could not love or adore her more.  

Beautiful Cause

Friends, just wanted to share with you a link to what has become such an amazing blessing to Clay and I. We were contacted by the folks at Fotolanthropy a few months back. They had heard about our story this last year and that Clay was in remission. (For 5 months and 7 days, now btw!!!) They wanted to celebrate with us and give us such an incredible and special gift. It was a photo-session, a film of our story and so much more.

There are not words to express what a timely gift this was to us. Clay's hair had all grown back, we were finally out of the haze of hospital stays and settling into our new home in Mansfield. If you are interested in seeing the video click here

They are UNbelievably gifted and for them to share their talents with us was so awesome.

We were so humbled that they would ask us to be a part of their efforts that I wanted to share with you, if you are interested, with supporting them. So that they can continue to bless others who are in need, they are selling beautiful ornaments!! You can see the information here, as well as footage from when they debuted the film at our house with our families and friends. Please check it out!!

hazel lately

Our darling little girl continues to change right in front of our eyes. Meet her best friend...

At 4 months I introduced Hazel to who would become my saving grace in the middle of night terrors, teething, difficult feedings and that uncontrollable fussy time. She immediately giggled. Since then she adores Elmo. Elmo songs, elmo dolls, elmo books, and anytime we ask where is elmo? If he is not on, she looks at the tv dissappointed. I have never known a child so young be so interested in a tv character. It makes the both of us laugh a lot.

She and I have been going on what I like to affectionately call "Mother daughter dates." Which is really just an excuse for me to go to girly places with her that her father wouldn't totally appreciate it. Here her titi (auntie) V is joining us for lunch. {btw all of these pictures her titi v took} I love the way our family loves this little girl.

"How big is Hazel?"

"Soooooo BIG!"

This is her response to anytime the word "big" is used. Big bites, big dogs, big girl, etc. I love it! {I also realize she is in her christmas pjs, just wanted her to use them before she out grew them :)}
She has been standing all by herself for a couple of months now but is still a little scared to take a step forward. She will walk all day long if she has something to hold on to. Her first few sounds were "dadada," and I think that sealed the deal for this papa here. We think we may have even heard a "hi, dada." Which only made me a tad jealous. She did start saying "nanana," that I took as mamama. Hazel is learning some signs, the one she has down is "all done," and she even says a-da.

Lastly this little girl can't get enough of books. She loves to open a book, especially the touch and feel books, and touch them and turns all the pages.

kisses



A very rare moment...this little one NEVER stays still. The only time she is cuddly is a little right before she goes to bed.

3 years

In three days, we will celebrate that we did this 3 years ago.....

My how things have changed in 3 years. I thought I loved him then....I feel so crazy blessed to have such a husband in him and a father for her. By God's grace, I get fall more in love with him each day.

counting backwards

this is a beautiful movie made by my dear cousin, who also stars in it. you must check it out and put it on your queue in netflix. it will be available april 26...do it! you can see the trailer here

i have quite the talented friends and family if i do say so myself :)

a new blog

my dear friend lizzie has assisted us in better communicating with our loved ones by creating this blog/journal--

we will be using this to update everyone as we begin our journey through this messy chapter of our lives.

www.caringbridge.org/visit/claywooten

we continue to covet your prayers

my love

does it get any more precious than this boy impressed with this catch but not interested in getting too close to touch it?

ugh this boy has stolen my heart...only i didn't know him then. i met him when i was 14. we went to different high schools. but we had some mutual friends, and i had heard of his name before. my friend actually liked him at the time. she used to call me after school to tell me about the times that she talked to him and how cute he was.

then as many 14 year old relationships do it fizzled. then i was a sophomore and saw him at a party. he was so cute. i had to get a picture with this boy. i sucked up the courage to ask him to get a picture with me. he was sweet and humored me, luckily knew who i was and agreed for the picture.

that night i went to my friends house loving that i had gotten to hang out with him and that he knew who i was! we continued on with our very separate lives until that fall, he still hadn't really left my thoughts...and for some reason i decided that enough was enough i was determined to date this boy. now don't get me wrong as though i was this aggressive teenage girl. quite the opposite. my parents were very adamant in raising me and my sisters to be lady, never calling boys and the boys responsibility in regards to girls.

then he came to one my high school football games, with a mutual friend. i. died. i could not believe it. we talked. even flirted. he invited me to church. i told him to call me and i would come. he said he didn't have me number. i told him it was cause he didn't ask for it. it was only the beginning....

and slowly as the Lord held us in His hand growing us in Him, challenging us in different, hard, unique ways we somehow still ended up together. that was almost 11 years ago...

here we are. the man of my dreams. my soul mate. the man who is not perfect but is perfectly made for me.





i love him so dearly

and now he has become a father. and what an amazing father he is to our little girl.
i know that this maybe late but he is my valentine, my hubby, my love.

she is here!!!

she is here! she is here! hazel's beautiful cousin charolette bradly wooten!! i. die. and oh my if this picture would only do justice to those lips, you would die too! we are so in love with this new little family--and hazel is just dying for her cousin to play with her :)

bringing hazel home

hazel is home. the last week and a half has been such a blur of night and day...i can not even believe its been that long. she has already grown so much. so before i forget some of the details (or before the need for sleep take over) i wanted to write about her birth story :)

the week i went into labor i had been 2 cm dilated. the week before my dr thought we were going to be having this baby two weeks early, but when nothing changed at my dr appt that week they thought i would hold out till my due date. that was on jan 11, then on jan 13, i wasn't feeling great and was feeling pretty huge to be honest. but i went to work and while i was driving was having intense contractions, but honestly nothing i hadn't experienced before. then they started coming about 15 min apart while i was in a session with one of my kids. i wrapped that up and called my husband telling him i was coming home, b/c i needed to lay down for a bit. when i got home they were about 10 min apart, but i was not interested in going to the hospital. i had contractions before and they would eventually pass, so i was just waiting for them to pass. clay kept asking me to go to the hospital and i continued to delay. i honestly just didn't want to be wrong and/or disappointed about going into labor. so after postponing it for almost an hour, i agreed to go to the hospital. clay had promised worst case scenario we will go out to eat and do something fun {such a patient man}.

we got to the hospital and i was walking in telling them i thought i was in labor. the nurses all kinda rolled their eyes since my water had not broken and i didn't seem to be in THAT much pain. moments later they checked me and i was dilated to a 4 1/2 cm. we called our families to let them know the baby was coming that night!

when i dilated to 5 cm, i was having contractions like crazy. super intense. clay was holding my hand as i was squeezing the bajeezes out of him. they came in to break my water, right in the middle of one of the worst contractions. it got crazy really fast. it was about then when my husband, who was recovering from being ill all week was holding my hand, and ran to the corner to throw up. i lost it. was crying. freaking out that my husband was going to be out of commission while i was in labor.

thank the Lord. he recovered. after that i got the epidural, and quickly progressed to 10cm. after a couple of hours of pushing at 1:10 AM hazel kathleen came into this world!

there was concerns of her inhaling her meconium, and potential jaundice, but after 24 hours, she was totally cleared. i know i am totally partial, but i just think she is the prettiest baby. i think she is going to be a carbon copy of her daddy.

hazel with her kiki

my sweet baby girl...oh my goodness i didn't know i could love her so much.

with her lola, this baby has so many people who love her

such a sweet baby

at home :)

look back at 2010

its pretty incredible to think of all the fun/crazy/exciting/life changing things that have happened in this last year...

in january...




had a grand ol time at the jewel charity ball with the hubs and some besties. together we have so much fun :)

in february....

got super geared up for our beloved olympics! even got some pretty neat gear to represent.

in may...
{mucho mucho occured}

we celebrated our mothers together as one big family...which was one of my fav dinners we had

all together

i got an incredible job offer and switched companies to be a bilingual speech therapist. it has been the best decision, career wise, i had ever made and it all happened so fast. i love my job and feel ever so fortunate to be working for such a great company.

then, as clay was studying for his finals, i decided to clear my thoughts and go ahead and get a pregnancy test. i was by myself for all of 15 min before he came home...pacing, shocked, and freaking out. we have always wanted kids, but our timing was a little different. now, we wouldn't change this in anyway.

we also went to fredricksburg with the wooten clan, were we enjoyed some good rest and relaxation.

in july....

we celebrated 2 amazing years of marriage in my most favorite place in all the world. puerto rico. after 10 years of being together, he finally got to see what i had been talking about for forever.


in august...

we moved from our precious one bedroom apt, where we had so many fond memories, to make some room for baby. we moved to our cozy little home.

we also enjoyed some more family time finding out that our baby, was going to be a girl! not even a little bit of an idea of what her name was going to be....we were thrilled!


in september...

chi-town. another fav city of mine :) we got to see many sites, shopped till we dropped, watch a cubs game and eat some fantastic food all in great company.


in november....

we were blessed with showers and love in preparation for our sweet hazel kathleen.

in december...

my patient, loving, wise husband got not one but 2 job offers. in a matter of days he will be quitting his security job that he has had for the last couple of years as he was in school and be the interim youth pastor at our church. then in june he will become an apprentice with a church plant here in the area where he can go to school full time and work full time. finally getting to do what he has been called to do his whole life.

wow....2011, i think you are going to be another fantastic year :)

bradly and hazel

during our thanksgiving celebration my sweet mother in law had a friend come over and take some pictures for christmas cards. i hadn't realized just how fun it would be to have these pictures when i realized it was bradly and hazel's first photo shoot. i'm anticipating many more to follow after seeing some of these results :)

they are going to be such good buddies

bradly's parents, just presh

hazel's mama and daddy

kiki, pops, and the whole gang....can't wait to meet you girls!

she's engaged

when we were wee ones, i used to have two pacifiers with me at all times. one for me, and one in case she cried. later i used to threaten to rip off her bear, spotty, arms off. as we grew up we fought, we hit, we yelled, we talked, we cried, we shared our hearts, and we came to know of His love around the same time. she came to baylor where we learned even more about our sin and His saving grace. we would share in moments often that only a sister can understand. when my world was falling apart she was there to walk through it with me....

and now she is getting married.

married.

he is her soulmate.

and i could not be more happy for her.

congrats veronica and jim! what a joyous time this is.

i love you both dearly :)

btw

we had the whole fam over to find out the gender of our baby. i had intended it to be just a surprise factor for me (totally selfishly) but as it turns out it was a really special moment to get to share it with everyone :)

the cake says baby wooten. funny aside... i know i'm not the only one who has thought of this...the lady who did the sonogram was totally familiar with what we were doing. despite this when i tried to explain to the bakery what we were trying to do and that i didn't want to know what the cake was--you would have thought i was speaking a different language. i was just thankful we had the doctor write on two envelopes in case they got it wrong...

so in conclusion...

ITS A GIRL!!!!

we are still a little up in the air about girl names...i am about 90 % set on one...just can't commit yet

my sister is a graphic designer and just started a blog. she played with a few of the names we are thinking about that you can check out here

--still don't have Internet at home...this is almost month number 2...hopefully at&t will get their act together quickly...

summer photo dump

sooooo this last break in between posts was not quite intentional...we moved at the beginning of august and are still without Internet at the casa. its been a little ridiculous and i just haven't made the time to sit somewhere and blog... but i promise it won't happen for quite as long again :)

here is a summary of what has been going on this summer....lots of greatness

many nights cooking out with the family. the moment it get to be remotely warm, is the moment my dad wants to grill out

she likes her steak

a few summer concerts of our friends....

friends (note this was the day before we found out we were expecting :) )

fredricksburg

puerto rico

this is also the beginning of which my clothes started to fit less and less...so you may see a repeat of the same shorts in many pics...i was not interested in purchasing anything maternity until i was at 5 months (which is now)

visiting the sister in austin

its been such a wonderful time...i have more to share but that will come soon, promise!